Skip navigation

Pharmacists - 29-1051.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Pharmacist
  • Staff Pharmacist
  • Clinical Pharmacist
  • Pharmacist in Charge (PIC)
  • Pharmacy Manager
  • Registered Pharmacist
  • Hospital Pharmacist
  • Outpatient Pharmacy Manager
  • Pharmacy Informaticist

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.
  • Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
  • Assay radiopharmaceuticals, verify rates of disintegration, and calculate the volume required to produce the desired results, to ensure proper dosages.
  • Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.
  • Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
  • Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
  • Manage pharmacy operations, hiring or supervising staff, performing administrative duties, or buying or selling non-pharmaceutical merchandise.
  • Offer health promotion and prevention activities, for example, training people to use devices such as blood pressure or diabetes monitors.
  • Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
  • Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
  • Prepare sterile solutions or infusions for use in surgical procedures, emergency rooms, or patients' homes.
  • Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
  • Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
  • Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients.
  • Refer patients to other health professionals or agencies when appropriate.
  • Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
  • Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.
  • Work in hospitals or clinics or for Health Management Organizations (HMOs), dispensing prescriptions, serving as a medical team consultant, or specializing in specific drug therapy areas, such as oncology or nuclear pharmacotherapy.

Detailed Work Activities

  • accept prescriptions for filling
  • adhere to safety procedures
  • advise clients or customers
  • advise governmental or industrial personnel
  • analyze chemical experimental, test, or analysis data or findings
  • analyze medical data
  • analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
  • answer customer or public inquiries
  • apply drug information to patient treatment
  • assign work to staff or employees
  • calculate medical dosages
  • calculate radiation dosage, following physician's prescription
  • collect scientific or technical data
  • communicate technical information
  • compile numerical or statistical data
  • compound pharmaceuticals or medical preparations
  • conduct analyses or tests of organic compounds
  • conduct laboratory research or experiments
  • conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
  • conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
  • create mathematical or statistical diagrams or charts
  • demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
  • develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
  • develop tables depicting data
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • dispense prescribed medications and pharmaceuticals
  • distinguish colors
  • explain complex mathematical information
  • explain uses or effects of drugs
  • follow confidentiality procedures
  • follow infectious materials procedures
  • follow safe waste disposal procedures
  • hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
  • interpret prescriptions
  • inventory medical supplies or instruments
  • inventory stock to ensure adequate supplies
  • label pharmaceutical supplies
  • maintain customer records
  • maintain established procedures concerning quality assurance
  • maintain record of medication or equipment dispensed to patient
  • maintain records, reports, or files
  • make presentations
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
  • monitor worker performance
  • obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
  • obtain information from individuals
  • order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
  • plan or organize work
  • prepare sterile solutions, infusions, or intravenous packs
  • provide advice on food or drug storage or use
  • provide customer service
  • refer patients to community resources
  • sell merchandise
  • store pharmaceutical supplies or filled prescriptions
  • teach individuals work-related techniques or skills
  • understand drug products
  • understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
  • understand pharmaceutical formulas
  • understand properties of gases or liquids
  • understand properties or composition of drugs
  • use chemical testing or analysis procedures
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use health or sanitation standards
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use knowledge of investigation techniques
  • use knowledge of medical terminology
  • use knowledge of metric system
  • use laboratory equipment
  • use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use quality assurance techniques
  • use quantitative research methods
  • use relational database software
  • use research methodology procedures in health care
  • use sanitation practices in health care settings
  • use scientific research methodology
  • use spreadsheet software
  • use word processing or desktop publishing software
  • work as a team member
  • write scholarly or technical research papers
  • write technical health or medical documents

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Pharmacist (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pharmacist (Coast Guard - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pharmacist (Navy - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacy (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pharmacy (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pharmacy Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pharmacy Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pharmacy Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pharmacy Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pharmacy Manager (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Pharmacy Officer (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pharmacy Superintendent (Air Force - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Director, Pharmacy Services
  • Pharmacist
  • Radiopharmacist